Iran ‘It’s truly hell here’: airstrikes, repression and water shortages become ‘new normal’ for Iranians Iranians describe how daily life is becoming ever harder as conflict continues and human rights crisis worsens Deepa Parent Follow Deepa Parent in My Guardian Wed 22 Jul 2026 07.00 BST Listen to this article 4:21 A s US airstrikes hit port and inland cities in Iran , and Tehran strikes at the US’s Middle East allies, the escalating conflict has left many Iranians fearing that, amid war and a worsening human rights crisis, they remain trapped in a cycle of violence and repression with no way out. Bandar Abbas, on the strait of Hormuz and the headquarters of the Iranian navy, has been hit by strikes every night since the latest escalation began nearly two weeks ago. Soroush*, a writer based in the city who secretly publishes a newsletter documenting human rights violations in Iran, described a “new normal” for its residents. “We need to accept this could just be our new reality ...